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262 off, after three broadsides. Sir John Duckworth was then enabled to attack the French Admiral, in the Imperial, of 120 guns, the fire of which had been heavy on the Northumberland. By this time the movement of the Alexandre had thrown her among the lee division, which Rear-Admiral Louis availed himself of, and the action became general, and continued with great severity till half-past eleven; when the French Commander-in-Chief, much shattered and completely beaten, hauled direct for the land, and not being a mile off, at twenty minutes before noon ran on shore, his fore-mast then only standing, which fell directly on her striking. Not, long after the Diomede, of 84 guns, pushed in shore near the Imperial, and it was afterwards found necessary to burn them. The remainder of the enemy’s line, consisting of l’Alexandre, of 84 guns; le Jupiter, 74; and le Brave, 74, were taken possession of by the British, and sent to Jamaica. The frigates and corvette effected their escape.

During this conflict, Rear-Admiral Cochrane’s flag-ship lost her mainmast, and was so shattered, that the Agamemnon was ordered to stay by, and accompany her to her station. The French had 760 killed and wounded on board the three captured ships; and they no doubt lost a proportionate number in the two that were destroyed.

The total loss of the English was 74 killed and 264 wounded; the Northumberland having 21 of the former, and 79 of the latter. Rear-Admiral Cochrane had a miraculous escape, having lost his hat by a grape shot early in the battle.

